Compare towns
Stratham vs Hanover vs Brookline vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the oldest population (median age 41.6).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Bow has the most affordable homes ($507k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Stratham | Hanover | Brookline | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754 |
8,479Highest |
5,736Lowest |
8,335 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Stratham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.9% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kLowest 53% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Bow and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$2,254±$249 51% above NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584Lowest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Brookline School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.